Purse Pattern Chronicles 3- Getting "Mondo"-cized

You might not be aware of this, but I recently announced to my Facebook Fans that I was starting on a new design for the Spring. This will be our 24th handbag pattern. Isn't that hard to believe?

So naturally, I've been feeling around for inspiration.
And after going thru my inventory in preparation for the Fall Market, it's become painfully apparent to me that my color palette is in a bit of a rut. I guess it's only natural for one to automatically gravitate to the old familiar colors we love, but this time, I feel like I need to infuse my typical process with a new zing... something exciting that I haven't tried before...perhaps a combination of colors I haven't tried before... or a combination of prints that I previously would have rejected.

And as I've pondered this over the summer, Project Runway began it's eighth season, and guess what? I am the world's GREATEST Project Runway fan. Did you know that my secret dream is to be a guest judge. Hey-don't laugh. If Kate Spade can do it, why not me? But I digress. Let's get back to finding my inspiration.

As PR's new season wore on, I found that I was increasingly drawn to the work of Mondo Guerra. Besides being arguably one of the most interesting characters in the history of this series, I've  admired his fearless use of prints and color. Whether or not I would ever really wear the items he designed is immaterial, (and no, I probably wouldn't), his finished pieces always make me smile.

His aesthetic is clear. Mondo enjoys working with bold graphic prints & strong colors, as well as various tweeds, plaids and houndstooth fabrics, often combining them in new and exciting ways.

I found myself looking forward each week to see what Mondo would come up with next!

Some of Mondo's fabric manipulations have reminded me at times of some of my purse exteriors. And that's when I started thinking, maybe I should take a page out of Mondo's book and design my next bag with style lines that can showcase unusual fabric combinations?

Maybe I'll even try using or combining a few colors I've never tried before?

Hmmm....Now where can I find some a houndstooth or a tweed print in cotton? Because I can't wait to get started!